Are You at Risk for Diabetes?

One-third of people with diabetes are unaware of it. In fact, people can have what is known as pre-diabetes for ten years before they are aware of it. Why you ask? The symptoms are vague and seem like nothing out of the ordinary. That is why Diabetes is called "The silent stalker". By the time people find out they have it the high glucose levels have damaged their eyes, nerves, kidneys and heart. As a pharmacist, there is nothing sadder than to see someone in their 50's, who has ignored their diabetes and now has neuropathy (nerve pain), heart problems, vision problems (even blindness) and kidney failure. Yet these situations are real, and all are preventable. Are you at risk? Ask yourself these questions:

Am I overweight?
Am I between 45 and 65 and get little or no exercise?
Am I a women who had a baby over 9lbs at birth?
Do I have a close family memeber (parent, brother, sister) with diabetes?

If you answered, yes to these questions you are at risk for diabetes, and you need to speak with your pharmacist and primary care doctor.

Tommorrow I'll talk about detecting pre-diabetes....

Tip: Fast, Healthy Breakfast to hold you through the morning...Put Natural Peanut Butter (my favorite brand is Smucker's Natural) on a bran toaster waffle with some jam, instead of butter and syrup. This will cut the sugar and fat and raise the protein and fiber and will ward off hunger through the morning.....